Matt Fitzpatrick bounced back from his final-hole disappointment at last week’s Players Championship to birdie the last and win the Valspar Championship by a
stroke for his first PGA Tour victory in almost three years.
The Englishman displayed superb consistency as he shot 68-69 over the weekend with just six birdies and 30 pars but the most important of the shots he picked up was at the Copperhead Course’s tough 18th hole.
His late birdie edged him ahead of America’s David Lipsky by one shot, with the contest appearing set for a play-off. England’s Jordan Smith was a further shot back, with Xander Schauffele finishing on eight under after a magnificent 65 on Sunday.
Tied with Lipsky on 10 under going into the final hole, Fitzpatrick hit his approach to just inside 14 feet and holed for his first birdie in 12 attempts on that hole.
It left the American, in the group behind, needing to match that to force a play-off but his 32-foot attempt came up just short.
For Fitzpatrick it was some consolation having finished a stroke short last week after bogeying the final hole at Sawgrass and provided the ideal confidence boost ahead of next month’s Masters.
“I think the big thing was I felt I was playing well,” Fitzpatrick said.
“I wanted to continue that and I had confidence in myself to do so. To do that over four rounds was special this week.
“I’ll be honest, it wasn’t an ideal putt on 18. I wouldn’t say I was overly-keen on it considering my putting performance but to get it done was special.
“I feel like it’s obviously a great start to the season now, and particularly in two weeks, because the major season is just around the corner.
“I’ll take two weeks off just to kind of prepare myself for that and then get better.”
Fellow Englishman Smith’s five-under 66 got him to nine under and into third, while compatriot Marco Penge was also in contention until he bogeyed the 16th, finishing in a tie for fourth on eight under after a 68.
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